Banire, who is said to be currently in Saudi Arabia on Lesser Hajj, made the allegation in a statement, which he confirmed to Tribune Online as “very authentic” in reply to an SMS sent to his cell phone.
Efforts to get the state government to react to the allegation proved abortive as several calls made to the cell phone of Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Steve Ayorinde, could not go through, even as a reply was still being awaited for the SMS made to the same phone as of press time.
But a source close to the Lagos House, who refused to have his name in print, denied the allegation, saying it was not true and, therefore, lacked substance.
However, Banire maintained that the threat to pull down his mother’s house was due to a disagreement he had with the state governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, saying the latest move followed failure to sack him from his position in the ruling party’s national working committee (NWC).
Governor Ambode, according to him, is out on a vendetta on all those close to him.
The APC National Legal Adviser wondered why the state government would demand that, “a building permit must be produced for an old building the existence of which predated the lease by which my mother became the occupier of the premises.”
Putting the record straight, Banire said himself and his siblings acquired a lease of the property known as 24A, Remi Fani-Kayode Street, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos from the Federal Government to serve as residence for their aged mother, pointing out that the lease covered the 2-bedroom bungalow already on the land together with a boys’ quarter.
The politician said he did not have any reason to rebuild the house or do any further construction as the place was fit for the purpose for which it was acquired on lease.
“I know that since the creation of the lease, my mother has been living in the said 2-bedroom bungalow without adding a block to the property by way of additional construction, development or alteration save minor renovation like painting,” he said.
“The reasons why we could not develop the property to make it more befitting is that we are still awaiting Federal consent to the lease created in my mother’s favour. How on earth could it be heard that a tenant is required to produce a building permit of a property that belongs to her landlord within 24 hours otherwise she risked demolition of the building?” he queried.
Speaking further, Banire maintained that the Lagos State government, under Mr Ambode was out on a vendetta and having failed to get him removed from the APC National Legal, had targeted my supporters for persecution.
“The more recent is the invasion and sealing up of the residence of honourable Funmilayo Tejuoso without a court order and in flagrant disregard to pending proceedings of the Lagos State High Court in a suit instituted by Honourable Tejuoso’s company and the Lagos state government.
“I had been expecting that, since I was the ultimate target having received several messages threatening my family members and me, very soon my properties shall become objects of demolition by the vindictive government that is out to wage war against real and perceived enemies. I am, therefore, not surprised to see that my aged mother’s residence is under attack.
“What urgency requires that the occupier of premises be given just 24 hours to produce a building permit of which he/she could not have been in possession?
“What urgency requires that the building be demolished within 48 hours of issuing a contravention notice if not vendetta?
“My call for internal democracy in All Progressives Congress, prevalence of Rule of Law and resistance to imposition came out of personal conviction to serve my creator in all ramifications and at every opportunity.
“All necessary reactions to the notice have been escalated to both the Lagos state government and the federal government as I have caused my lawyers to respond to the notice appropriately. I have no doubt that this latest gestapo tactic is in furtherance of the political victimisation and oppression raging against me and my associates,” the APC chieftain said.
He, however, vowed: “I am ready for the sacrifice even if I have to in the process sleep on the street of Lagos. Rule of law and institution building remain sacrosanct to me.
“As far as God continues to protect my life, I will remain resolute on it. As the political repression continues, I urge all my followers and supporters to be calm. If God says that my ailing mother at the age of 90 will die in the hands of Governor Ambode, I give God the glory.”
and then